He’s a forgotten soul. A martyr. The one that fell between the cracks.
OK, I’ll admit it: I’m being a bit dramatic.
I’m talking about Oregon running back Kenjon Barner.
The player who consistently registers 100-yard rushing performances as a backup. The speedster who’s a threat in the passing game, on the edge and between the tackles. The shifty back who serves as a luxurious insurance policy for the suddenly fragile LaMichael James.
Yeah, that guy.
I’m only giving you a reminder because it seems like Barner gets forgotten — a lot. Opposing coaches don’t shower him with praise after games. Chip Kelly doesn’t field endless questions about his role on the team. And the media, even during its prolonged love affair with Oregon football, tends to constantly leave him as an afterthought.
I’m here to give Barner the cry for help that he deserves.
I know that analysts and coaches constantly refer to him to as one of the best backups in the country. What many people don’t realize is that you could make a legitimate argument he’s been one of the most productive running backs in the nation.
Period.
Barner surely passes the eye test. He’s agile, has soft hands and is adept at finding gaps between blockers. He rarely fumbles. He may not look as fast as LaMichael James, but he is. He led all running backs on the team with a time of 3.91 seconds in the shuttle during last year’s winter conditioning.@@http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=1550399@@
Even more, the numbers don’t lie. In his Oregon career, Barner has 280 carries. Let’s compare his statistics to 2010 totals from LaMichael James, who registered 294 carries that year.@@http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=1550399@@ @@http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=1550399@@
Yards: Advantage Barner, 1747 to 1731.
Rushing touchdowns: Advantage James, 21 to 20.
Yards per reception: Advantage James, 12.1 to 9.13.
You could make the argument that both backs have been equally effective. And yet while James is a Heisman trophy finalist and Doak Walker Award winner, Barner isn’t even the most hyped backup running back on his own team.@@I don’t see the point of comparing one year to three, and then saying “Look, they’re really close!”@@
That honor would go to De’Anthony Thomas. Don’t get me wrong — Thomas is a unique talent in his own right and has blossomed this season. He deserves the exposure he’s getting. It just seems odd that a player as talented as Barner gets relegated to third-string status every now and then.
The good news is that Barner will likely get his chance to shine. And that chance looks to be sooner rather than later. Considering that James has taken an insane amount of punishment over the past three seasons, his college career appears to be wrapping up. By this time next year, he’ll be playing on Sundays. And for Oregon fans, that thought doesn’t really cause much panic.
And maybe that’s why we don’t talk about Barner. We’ve seen what he’s capable of. His brilliance, unlike that of James, has come in small doses. And contrary to the baby-faced Thomas, he’s not prone to erratic play or turnovers. He just goes out, plays his role and gets the job done.
Next season, after three long seasons spent waiting in the shadows, Barner will step into the limelight. Something tells me he’s ready for his close-up.
Lieberman: Is Kenjon Barner the most underrated back in college football?
Daily Emerald
November 29, 2011
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